Ontario Breast Screening Program celebrates 15th anniversary in Northwestern Ontario

Successful in significantly reducing deaths from breast cancer, the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) is celebrating 15 years of delivering high quality breast screening to women in the province. Due in part to the OBSP program, between 1989 and 2002 breast cancer mortality rates in Ontario women aged 50-69 decreased by 29 per cent.

obs 01 Northwestern Ontario’s breast screening program has increased its reach this year to approximately 8400 women, from its initial screening in 1992 of 1000 women. Always looking for new initiatives, the program’s immediate goal is to attract women about to turn 50, and encourage them to be proactive about their health. Regular breast screening can find cancers early when they are small and less likely to have spread. According to the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care, women over the age of 50 should have a mammogram every two years to detect the small cancers – those that have the highest chance of being cured – before they can be felt. “The scope of the OBSP program in Northwestern Ontario is truly comprehensive,” said Michael Power, Vice President of Regional Cancer and Diagnostic Services. “With its ongoing initiatives and progress, we are positioned to be first in the province not only in retention, but also in general screens. We always adjust our performance standards in all of our programs to the highest levels of achievement, usually set by the province, although our challenges are traditionally greater, through geography, access, and awareness. This makes our successes that much more significant.”

Across the province, the Ontario Breast Screening Program has enjoyed much success with the number of participants in the program growing exponentially. “Of all women screened in the past year in Ontario, the OBSP performed 40 per cent of all screening mammograms,” said Dr. Rene Shumak, Chief Radiologist for the Ontario Breast Screening Program. “In the next 15 years, our goal is to have 90 per cent of Ontario women age 50-69 screened in an organized breast screening program. We want to enable women to take an active approach in their health and well being, and programs like our breast screening program have grown into valuable tools that women can use to create a health index for themselves.”

obs 02 Since the OBSP started its program in Northwestern Ontario in 1992 with the regional mobile coach and affiliate centres, breast screening has increased to approximately 45% of the target population. “The fact that we have the second highest screening rate in the province demonstrates the mobile screening program’s success and ground breaking initiatives that address geography, accessibility, and culture,” stated Alison McMullen, Acting Director of Preventive Oncology. “However, we need to encourage women who are about to turn 50 to participate in regular breast screening, which is always our challenge.”

In addition to the mobile coach that travels to 28 communities throughout Northwestern Ontario, women can make an appointment with three OBSP screening affiliates; Riverside Health Care Facilities in Fort Frances, Thunder Bay Medical Centre, and CML – Port Arthur Health Centre, in Thunder Bay. The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre will become an affiliate in early 2006.

Organized breast screening programs like the OBSP make regular screening easier for women to access, and increase the likelihood that they will get screened. Women 50 and over, with or without a family physician can book their own appointments and are reminded by letter when they are due for their next screening appointment. The program books mammograms, tells patients their screening results and arranges follow-up tests or referrals when needed.

For every 100 women screened at the OBSP, nine are referred for further tests and one of these will have breast cancer. “This is a program that is really needed,” said Lenore Gould, a woman from Red Lake who uses the program. “I had a sister who passed away from breast cancer so it is really important that I be screened regularly. I always get a reminder letter when it's time to book an appointment, and I also receive my results very quickly, which is reassuring when you know there is breast cancer in your family. The appointments are always fast and convenient and I never feel rushed, and the staff are excellent, making me feel comfortable and relaxed. They are very professional, and answer any questions I have. They even say they love coming to Red Lake!”

obs 03 Breast cancer is the most common cancer with Ontario women having a one in nine chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. In 2005, it is estimated that 8,200 women in the province will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 2,000 will die from it. In Northwestern Ontario, an estimated 150 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and nearly 20% will die. “When I was going through my treatment for cancer and was dealing with all of the emotional and physical challenges that come with that, I had to sit down and recognize that my life was changing,” reflected Jody Nesti, cancer survivor and NCRF Board Member. “If, through my story, I can help to promote a program that enables women to take control of their health and be proactive, rather than reactive, I am happy to participate. I am also here as an NCRF Board Member, and the impacts that I believe we have made on cancer treatment and awareness are reflected in the cancer program available in Northwestern Ontario, and I am proud to have been a part of it.”

Breast cancer awareness, screening, and treatment has made great strides in the last 15 years. There has been an explosion of life-saving treatment advances that fight the complex mix of cells in each individual cancer. Hormonal treatments, like Tamoxifen, have provided great responses in managing breast cancer. Surgical procedures have advanced with lumpectomies, lymph node dissection, and concurrent reconstruction. Complementary therapies, like radiation, to prevent recurrence, and chemotherapy, which is a systemic approach, or immunotherapy, which is a targeted approach, all reduce recurrence, and eradicate cancer cells that weren’t present during surgery. With treatment methods and approaches ever evolving to potentially include MRI and PET screening, innovative research studies, and statistics that prove that prevention, awareness, and screening are dramatically reducing breast cancer incidence and mortality. In Northwestern Ontario, the NCRF concentrates a number of its special events on breast cancer research that stays in our region, and will ensure the success of programs like the OBSP.

The OBSP provides high quality services and meets Canadian and international standards for early detection of small invasive cancers. OBSP locations are accredited with the Canadian Association of Radiologists Mammography Accreditation Program, and staff and equipment are evaluated on an ongoing basis to make sure they offer high quality mammograms at all times.

For more information, please visit www.cancercare.on.ca, or call 1-800-461-7031.

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